An All-Day Outdoor Party in South Wales: Fiona & Dan

Outdoor wedding ceremonies are rare occurrences in the UK and Ireland, so imagine our delight when we saw the photographs from today's real wedding, which featured not only a garden party-style drinks reception, but an outdoor dancefloor to boot! Fiona and Dan didn't pay too much attention to the traditional wedding formula when planning their big day, and their stylish celebration at Broadway Country House in South Wales is all the more exciting for it! It helps that this wedding contains lots of surprises - the stationery was a DIY effort, Fiona did her own makeup, and the speeches were improvised! The couple asked Elaine Williams Photography to document the day, and we're so glad they did, because the photographs are just beautiful! So, let's take a closer look, shall we?

Fiona and Dan have been together for 11 years, having met in their hometown of Carmarthen in Wales. "We had a summer romance in 2007 before Dan had to return to university in Canterbury," Fiona tells us. "Dan graduated and returned home with a small stint in a Beatles tribute band in Rhodes, whilst I moved to Cardiff and then to Brighton. He followed me to Brighton and then I dragged him back to Cardiff in 2014, where we have been ever since!"

Dan proposed during an idyllic minibreak in the Welsh countryside. "It was just the two of us in Hay-on-Wye in our B&B," Fiona remembers. "The next day we went kayaking and spent the rest of the holiday in the local pub drinking beer and playing pool - our perfect day and evening!"

Fiona went high street for her bridal party outfits - these blush pink bridesmaids dresses are from ASOS, and the boho flower girl dresses are Monsoon finds!

When they sat down to discuss their wedding, Fiona and Dan quickly settled on their top priority. "We wanted to make sure we had our nearest and dearest with us, which is why we chose a venue close to our hometown. We wanted our friends and extended family to join us for celebrations in the afternoon, so we had more time enjoying their company!"

This couple's wedding day was all about making the most of the beautiful surroundings. "We were lucky with the weather and used it to our advantage, so had music and dancing outside on the lawn, including our first dance! It was an intimate, family wedding followed by an afternoon of lawn games, drinks and dancing by moonlight, and dodgy disco lights!"

It didn't take the couple long to choose Broadway Country House as their wedding venue. "Dan’s grandparents lived in Laugharne, so it holds lots of fond memories for us. The fact we could have the whole country house and grounds to ourselves for the day and stay the night was amazing, and made the whole day much more relaxed and personal."

Fiona and Dan were lucky enough to have some wedding suppliers in their family and friend circle, who lent their services on the day - Leah from Capel Bakes made an incredible naked wedding cake, while Caroline from Creative Hart helped with styling and décor. "Having friends and family involved in planning and decorating was important too, as it gave such a personal touch to the day."

Dan and Fiona didn't want traditional, posed wedding portraits, but Elaine Williams managed to deliver gorgeous photographs nonetheless. "Having a photographer who completely understood our relaxed, easygoing way was essential," Fiona says. "We loved being in her company on the day and didn't dread the portraits - it was the part of the day we could catch up, laugh and enjoy the most!"

This pair were so ecstatic to be married, they couldn't wait for the band - they just had to start dancing right away!

Fiona's advice for engaged couples is to "go with the flow on the day. Things sometimes go to plan and other times they don't. I'd planned to have bubbles instead of confetti as that spectacular wedding shot but it didn't happen, but I don't regret a single second of our day. We also had sparklers we didn't use - we kept them for a post-wedding BBQ with close family, and our nieces and nephew loved it!"

This is the prettiest menu we've seen in aeons!

The dining space at Broadway Country House is so lovely - exposed brick, exposed beams and clean, white walls makes for a pretty foolproof combination!

These painted wine bottles are so subtly glamorous - as DIYs go, this one is really achievable, too.

Fiona and Dan displayed family wedding portraits by their guest book for an added personal touch. I just love looking at family photos at a wedding!

After the wedding, Fiona and Dan enjoyed a few days of sun and relaxation in Portugal, but the full honeymoon is still to come! "We have plans to spend three weeks in Vietnam this year," Fiona tells us.

The couple's naked wedding cake looks so tempting. It's a miracle that their guests were able to wait until dessert!

Fiona and Dan made sure to ditch or reinvent any traditions that didn't appeal to them. "Dan's best friend performed a solo version of Something by the Beatles as our first dance," Fiona says. "We danced on the lawn and all our friends and family joined in at the end. We skipped on a lot of formalities and had very informal, short speeches that were off-the-cuff, and short and sweet!"

This first dance looks down-right magical! If only every couple could be treated to such gorgeous weather on the big day!

We honestly can't think of a more romantic end to a wedding day! At this point, we have to say a huge thank you to Fiona and Dan for giving us the back story to their big day, and to Elaine Williams for sharing the amazing photographs!